Gillingham’s ambition was key to Mark Bonner’s decision to take on a job where expectations are sky high.

Chairman Brad Galinson has made it clear he wants promotion next season and former Cambridge United boss Bonner is up for the challenge.

Bonner said: “Success is going to be judged on league tables, there is no question, the owner has made it very clear what he wants and what he expects and how he wants to see us develop over a short period of time.

“We will be one of many that start the season trying to get promoted into League 1, there is no point hiding it, partly that ambition is the pull here, the fact there is going to be a genuine investment to give us a chance and be competitive and in what I think will be an open league next year.

“We have to have personality and character to take on that tag and almost embrace that ambition and if we all want success we have to expect what comes with that.

“A season is a long one, everyone starts on zero points in August, it’s a long way to the final number to be ultimately successful. We are all determined to get to work on building a team that can be really, really competitive at the top end of the division. How things turn out we will see over time.

“We have to build a team that has a chance and that we can get some momentum, and if we can build something quickly and add, then it can be an exciting time, but there is a heck of a lot of work to do to get to that point.”

Bonner is only 38 but has already enjoyed promotion from League 2, at Cambridge United, and he was drawn by the ambition of Gillingham and the experienced heads around the place.

He’ll be working with head of recruitment Andy Hessethaler and director of football Kenny Jackett this summer to build a team capable of challenging at the top of League 2.

He said: “For me, when you put together what you want in a job, you want opportunity, you want to work with good people and I have been really impressed with the people I have met so far.

“You want a club that is really ambitious and wants to grow together and learn and develop a winning football team. I think our missions are aligned in that sense.

“I have been really impressed with the people I have met and I love the vision for the club, it’s a big football club. I love seeing everything that’s in operation and all the plans for the future, I am really excited to get started.

“I have been out of work for five months, I have watched a lot of football in the time I have been off, I have been to see some excellent clubs at work and reflected well on my previous role where I had 201 games.

“I feel re-energised, I feel excited to dive into something that is new and I am a grafter, I will put the work in to get to know the people and the place well and I will move down immediately, getting to know the area and the club and most importantly build a football team that can bring about the ambitions that we have got.”